XSens MTi-8 Click is a new compact add-on board designed for RTK-supported high-accuracy positioning and orientation tracking in demanding outdoor embedded applications. It is based on the MTI-8-5A, an RTK-enhanced GNSS/INS module from Xsens that combines GNSS positioning with advanced inertial sensing and real-time sensor fusion.
The compact Click add-on boards enable developers to rapidly provide proof-of-concept, then prototype and code new embedded projects.
Key Features
Centimeter-level precision: Features real-time kinematic (RTK) support, delivering position accuracy down to 1 cm + 1 ppm CEP
High-speed sensor fusion: Runs the Xsens’ sensor fusion algorithm with output data rates up to 100 Hz, providing high-speed dead-reckoning and orientation data even during rapid movements
Advanced inertial sensing: Integrates a high-range gyroscope, accelerometer, and magnetometer, offering roll/pitch accuracy of 0.5° RMS and yaw accuracy of 1° RMS (with GNSS aiding)
Interface options: Offers flexible system integration through UART, SPI, or I2C interfaces, along with a USB Type-C port for easy configuration and testing.
Suitable applications
Self-driving platforms and delivery robots that require centimeter-level navigation in outdoor environments
Autonomous tractors and crop-monitoring drones where precise path-following is essential
High-end drones and robotic systems that depend on accurate roll, pitch, and yaw data for stability
Mobile mapping systems and surveying equipment that demand high-reliability motion tracking and positioning.
A roundup of recent products in the GNSS and inertial positioning industry from the January-February 2026 issue of GPS World magazine.
Autonomous
1. Delivery Drones
Volatus deploys medical supplies in Canada
Image: Trimble
Volatus Aerospace has integrated the Trimble PX-1 RTX solution into its commercial delivery drone service to achieve accurate and robust positioning and heading. The Trimble module provides Volatus’ clients with a turnkey solution for highly accurate aerial data acquisition and fully remote drone operations in real-world missions, including beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). The PX-1 RTX uses Trimble’s CenterPoint RTX corrections along with compact, high-performance GNSS-inertial hardware to deliver real-time, centimeter-level positioning and highly precise inertial-derived true heading measurements. This technology reduces operational risks associated with poor sensor performance or magnetic interference by providing enhanced positioning redundancy.
For border protection and long-range surveillance missions
Image: CopterPIX
The ERE95 Mini by CopterPIX operational platform is fully capable of GNSS-denied missions and integrates a long-range, anti-jamming communication system supporting distances of more than 20 km. It has an endurance of 2 hours and can carry up to 5 kg of payload for up to 1 hour. It also has integrated daylight and thermal imaging for advanced surveillance. With a fully foldable frame, the platform collapses into a backpack-sized kit, making it suitable for rapid mobility and field operations. Its modular “puzzle” architecture allows quick adaptation of SDR modules, optical payloads, and navigation solutions, enabling mission-specific configurations. To support rapid field deployment, the ERE95 Mini features a mechanical and electrical quick-connect interface, allowing operators to switch payloads in seconds and maintain continuous operational readiness across all missions.
Integrated into long-endurance unmanned aircraft system
Image: AeroVironment
AeroVironment has integrated its visual navigation system (VNS) kit with the Puma Long Endurance (LE) small unmanned aircraft system, delivering GNSS-denied navigation capability. The VNS kit uses advanced computer vision and onboard processing to deliver precise, GNSS-independent navigation. Using a suite of downward-facing sensors, cameras and onboard computing, the VNS kit performs visual inertial odometry to capture and analyze terrain imagery, estimating true aircraft position in real time. The system fuses continuous visual data from the cameras with motion inputs from onboard inertial sensors to calculate precise position, velocity and orientation — allowing the aircraft to know where it is and where it is going when GNSS is not available. It automatically transitions between GNSS-enabled and GNSS-denied modes with zero pilot input, ensuring uninterrupted mission continuity in contested environments.
Low power, small footprint setup for close-airspace awareness
Photo: MatrixSpace
The Portable 360 Radar is a rugged, easily transportable radar kit that delivers reliable close-airspace awareness with panoramic coverage for rapid-response counter-drone operations, from safeguarding stadiums and large public gatherings to border security and battlespaces. The MatrixSpace platform unifies threat awareness across multiple networked Portable 360 Radar systems and other sensors, without compromising local operation. By combining AI edge processing with MatrixSpace AiCloud Enterprise software, central command centers get an enhanced common operating picture and deep airspace activity analytics to assure public safety.
The SatLab SL8 Laser RTK GNSS receiver combines dual cameras, GNSS, an IMU and visible laser technology to make surveying faster and easier. With non-contact measurement, image-assisted targeting, CAD live-view stakeout, and a built-in LoRa radio. It ensures smooth, reliable work even in complex or GNSS-limited environments. The SL8 achieves 2 cm accuracy within 10 meters and enables efficient data collection across bridges, tunnels, riverbanks, and other sites where traditional GNSS methods are restricted. It features image-assisted targeting through SatSurv software, displaying laser points directly on real-time images for quick and precise aiming. Its automotive-grade IMU requires no manual calibration or initialization and enhances measurement accuracy by up to 40% in GNSS-challenged areas. A built-in multi-protocol LoRa transceiver provides stable transmission beyond 15 km and compatibility with multiple RTK brands. The integrated CAD and visual stakeout functions combine live imagery with CAD data, allowing users to visualize target points on site and increase layout efficiency by up to 50%.
A complete precision mapping solution for the utility and critical infrastructure industries worldwide is the goal of a partnership between ProStar Holdings and Tersus GNSS. The partnership will integrate Tersus’s survey-grade GNSS receivers with ProStar’s PointMan Underground Utility Mapping Software, providing an affordable, field-ready solution. The partnership will use ProStar’s LinQD open API integration platform, which is designed to enable seamless interoperability between emerging technologies and legacy systems, creating a robust global ecosystem for geospatial intelligence, uniting equipment manufacturers and service providers under the initiative.
The MVP S1 RTK-SLAM handheld 3D laser scanner uses GNSS through an AI-driven RTK-SLAM workflow, as well as lidar data with imagery from dual 48-megapixel panoramic cameras. The combination provides survey-grade results in both GNSS-denied and open environments. The system achieves centimeter-level accuracy outdoors and maintains performance indoors or underground through SLAM processing. TimeSync 3.0 synchronizes the hardware, aligning sensor data at the microsecond level and supporting consistent datasets and reliable post-processing. A mobile application provides users with real-time feedback, including previews of colorized point clouds while scanning, as well as basic scan reports on site. This feature helps operators verify data completeness and quality before leaving the field, reducing the need for repeat visits. The MVP S1 supports 3D gaussian splatting (3DGS), enabling creation of textured, photorealistic 3D models. This capability is useful for building information modeling, construction progress monitoring, underground surveys, forestry analysis and industrial site documentation.
The MALÅ GeoDrone 600 and Zond Aero 600 NG are two new high-resolution ground-penetrating radar (GPR) systems for UAVs. They significantly enhance high-resolution subsurface investigations with drones, supporting applications in engineering surveys, utility mapping, archaeology, environmental studies and geophysical research. They enable surveyors to capture consistent, high-quality subsurface data in areas difficult, slow or unsafe to access with traditional ground instruments. Operating at 600 MHz, the antennas offer a balance between penetration depth and fine near-surface resolution. Typical penetration from the drone is up to 2 meters, depending on surface conditions, while SPH Engineering’s True Terrain Following ensures stable antenna height to maintain data quality and repeatability.
For high-precision surveying, photo surveys and 3D modeling
Image: Aurora Navigation
The Astra1 Mobile Visual RTK is a professional-grade GNSS receiver engineered to redefine high-precision mobile data acquisition. It is built to meet the demand for highly portable, reliable, high-precision tools that simplify complex field operations. At 60 grams, the Astra1 is an ultra-compact solution designed to deliver reliable, centimeter-level positioning and advanced 3D mapping capabilities through seamless integration with a smartphone and the proprietary Anypos App. Accuracy is RTK 8mm+1PPM horizontally, 15mm+1PPM vertically, photo survey <4 cm (2-15 m distance). The Astra1 allows users to capture photos with precise RTK coordinates, enabling the creation of accurate 3D models for detailed construction verification and digital twinning applications.
The AR588MA is a 5G-advanced (5G-A) automotive-grade cellular module that integrates dual-band GNSS supporting both L1 and L5 bands with up to 30 Hz output. Based on MediaTek’s latest-generation MT2739 platform, the AR588MA supports 5G-A communication technology and complies with the 3GPP R18 standard protocol. It features both NB-NTN and NR-NTN satellite communication capabilities and supports dual-SIM dual-active (DSDA) technology, offering improved stability and reliability on cellular connections. It also includes intelligent driving scenario recognition. Designed in compliance with the AEC-Q104 Grade 2 automotive standard, it delivers fast, stable connectivity and reliable security for in-vehicle communication and benefits on-roof applications, such as smart antennas for automotive, with higher-temperature support.
A firmware upgrade to the Xsens Sirius and Xsens Avior IMUs delivers centimeter-level vertical displacement measurements for marine stabilization and control systems. The new Heave feature enables real-time stabilization and wave compensation in a wide range of marine applications. Marine engineers can access comprehensive motion data — roll, pitch, yaw and heave — from a single compact sensor, eliminating the need for external processing or oversized tactical-grade systems while maintaining the precision required for offshore platforms, vessels, docking systems, marine robots, buoys and surveying equipment.
The InnovizThree is fully colored long-range lidar with camera that creates a compact sensor-fusion module designed to reduce OEM integration complexity. The solution combines lidar and RGB sensing in a single compact perception module, purpose-built for behind-the-windshield installations, drones, micro-robotics and humanoids. The consolidation of an RGB camera inside InnovizThree reinforces Innoviz’s commitment to scalable, OEM-friendly sensor-fusion perception solutions designed for series production and long-term deployment, with the potential to enable faster deployment and cost savings. The RGB sensing capabilities are factory-aligned with the lidar, enabling precise and consistent visual-to-lidar geometry across production units. This alignment, combined with hardware-synchronized capture, will enable reliable multi-modal sensor-fusion data correlation while reducing calibration effort during vehicle integration.
High-integrity GNSS integration for autonomous driving
Image: Getty Images / iStock / FlashMovie
Swift Navigation is collaborating with Nvidia to enable a scalable, cost-effective approach to autonomous driving by integrating the Nvidia Drive AGX platform with Swift’s globally referenced, centimeter-accurate GNSS positioning. Swift Navigation offloads absolute localization to the GNSS sensor stack using its Swift Automotive Suite. The suite is a complete, modular software solution for safe, high-integrity precise vehicle localization that combines the centimeter-level Skylark Precise Positioning Service with the Starling positioning engine, software that fuses raw GNSS data and corrections with IMU and wheel odometry to deliver high-integrity, centimeter-accurate positioning (PVT). By using Swift’s high-precision stack for lane-level positioning, the vehicle’s optical sensors focus on obstacle detection and safety, lowering system cost and complexity.
Sinclair’s new SM 5G Family Tier features the SM714 and SM2601 series antennas. The multi-band, multi-port antennas are engineered to deliver superior connectivity, reliability and versatility for GNSS and other mission-critical wireless transportation applications. The SM714 is a 4-in-1 low-profile customizable transit antenna that combines 5G/LTE, Wi-Fi and tri-band GNSS coverage in a single compact form. Supporting 617–5925 MHz, it enables seamless operation across all major 5G and LTE bands. It is suitable for vehicles, fleet systems and connected mobility applications requiring a discreet, high-performance solution. The SM2601D is a 5-in-1 low-profile customizable antenna that features five independent ports: one for PTC (219–223 MHz), one for Wi-Fi (2400–6000 MHz), one for GNSS, and two full-band cellular ports (694–2700 MHz) that support diversity and MIMO operation for multi-radio systems. This dual-cell configuration offers greater throughput, flexibility, and redundancy in complex communication environments.
High-precision depth sensing and real-time velocity measurement
Image: Voyant Photonics
New versions of the Carbon lidar platform add 32-line and 64-line variants for compact, cost-sensitive and compute-limited systems. The new models complement existing 128-line configurations and are optimized for industrial autonomy, robotics, drones and smart infrastructure applications. They offer lower data rates and simplified integration while maintaining core FMCW advantages including velocity measurement, interference immunity and high dynamic range. With line resolutions spanning 32, 64 and 128, original equipment manufacturers and system integrators can tailor performance, bandwidth and compute load to specific use cases, from robotics and automated guided vehicles to drones and embedded edge platforms. The Carbon family’s silicon-photonics architecture integrates beam steering and coherent detection on a single photonic chip. The new variants include high-precision depth sensing and real-time velocity measurement, exceptional ambient light immunity and compact design for industrial and mobile environments.
For automotive track and varied environment testing
Image: VBOX
The NTRIP Base Station from VBOX Automotive combines a multi-constellation, multi-frequency GNSS engine with a built-in networked transport of RTCM via internet protocol (NTRIP) server. The equipment transmits real-time kinematic corrections over radio and cellular or Wi-Fi networks, supporting accurate real-time positioning across wider areas in varied environments compared to traditional radio-only systems. The base station launches in three models, with specifications designed to fit users’ needs. All systems combine quad-constellation, dual-frequency GNSS technology with built-in cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity. Compatible with VBOX 4, VBOX 3iS and external GNSS rovers, the new NTRIP Base Station supports both MSM4 and MSM7 RTCM formats, has up to 24 hours of battery life and is rated to IP67 to handle the demands of long outdoor test sessions. Models include Internal GNSS antenna and 2.4 GHz radio (quick to deploy for short-range applications, for temporary or mobile testing); Internal GNSS antenna, no radio (compact and simple, suitable for NTRIP or semi-permanent installations with external high-power radio masts); and External GNSS antenna, no radio (optimized for permanent installations with tripod-mounted antennas for maximum satellite visibility, supporting NTRIP or external radio).
Firmware upgrade available for Xsens Sirius and Xsens Avior motion sensors delivers centimeter-level vertical displacement measurement for marine stabilization and control systems
Xsens has announced a major capability upgrade for its industrial-grade Xsens Sirius and Xsens Avior inertial measurement units (IMUs). The new Heave feature delivers centimeter-level vertical displacement measurement, enabling real-time stabilization and wave compensation in a wide range of marine applications.
Marine engineers can now access comprehensive motion data — roll, pitch, yaw and Heave — from a single compact sensor. This eliminates the need for external processing or for oversized tactical-grade systems while maintaining the precision required for offshore platforms, vessels, docking systems, marine robots, buoys and surveying equipment.
The Heave output operates at up to 100Hz, providing the real-time response needed in active stabilization and wave compensation systems. All processing happens on-device, simplifying system integration and reducing latency.
Xsens motion reference units (MRUs) — IMUs with Heave capability — deliver real-time Heave accuracy better than 5 cm for wave periods up to 29 s. This covers most marine applications. For longer wave periods up to 40 s, accuracy is approximately 6cm, twice the range supported by comparable industrial-grade MRUs.
“Engineers now get vertical displacement data directly onboard, alongside roll, pitch and yaw,” said Ayush Sharma, Algorithms Engineer at Movella. “This gives marine customers the complete motion reference they need for stabilization and compensation systems, without the size or certification overhead of tactical MRUs.”
The algorithm uses proprietary phase correction and bias estimation to mitigate the effect of drift over extended operating periods. Users can also define offset points — center of rotation (COR) and point of interest (POI) — ensuring that Heave values reflect the true motion of the vessel or payload, even when the MRU is installed away from the POI.
The Heave algorithm is available for download immediately as a firmware update for existing Xsens Sirius and Xsens Avior units in the field, with no hardware modifications required. All new units ship with the feature integrated. Heave output is enabled with a single setting in the MT Manager software or the Xsens software development kit (SDK).
Designed for straightforward integration
Xsens Avior is a compact OEM module for embedded system designs.
Xsens Sirius is a standalone MRU in a rugged IP68 housing for harsh environments. It meets MIL-STD-202 requirements.
Both products support RS-422, CAN, and UART interfaces. Development kits are available for prototyping, with free SDKs for C/C++, Python, ROS1, ROS2, and MATLAB. All units meet CE, FCC, and RoHS regulatory requirements, and are ITAR-free.
Xsens Avior and Xsens Sirius MRUs are available globally from Movella and authorized partners. For specifications, datasheets, and ordering information, visit www.movella.com/products/sensor-modules or contact a Movella sales representative.
Xsens has launched Xsens Avior, a lightweight, OEM form factor inertial measurement unit (IMU) with a compact 36.8mm x 40mm footprint that offers enhanced performance in a wide variety of industrial and commercial applications.
The Xsens Avior is suitable for products manufactured in high volume thanks to its vertical 10×2-pin socket connector for simple board mounting, and its tolerance of any mounting orientation in all three axes. The product also eases design integration, with UART, CAN, SPI and I2C interfaces on-board and support for RS232 and RS422 via the product’s development kit or an external transceiver.
Xsens has integrated a new generation of sensing components in the Avior, as well as advanced analog filtering for higher stability and noise reduction, resulting in substantially better performance compared to the previous generation product. Heading accuracy is 1° RMS and roll and pitch accuracy is 0.2° RMS. Stability is also enhanced in the Xsens Avior: in-run bias stability in the gyroscope is 8°/hr, and accelerometer in-run bias stability is 15μg.
Weighing 35.2g, the Xsens Avior is enclosed in a robust aluminum housing and has a rating of IP51 and an operating temperature range of –40°C to 85°C. The sensor’s small size, light weight, high performance and robust construction provide value in applications such as drones, 3D mapping, and marine remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).
Flexible product options
The new sensor is available in three versions:
IMU providing calibrated inertial sensor data
Vertical Reference Unit (VRU) providing accurate, calibrated values for roll and pitch, and unreferenced yaw data
Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS), providing accurate, calibrated roll and pitch values, and heading data referenced to true North
The Xsens Avior is available in a ready-to-use hardware development kit, and is supplied with free software development kits supporting the C#/C++, Python, ROS 1 and ROS 2 and Matlab environments, as well as full documentation and step-by-step guides to design integration.
Key product specifications:
Typical power consumption: <0.5W
Maximum output data rate: 400Hz
Gyroscope full range: ±300°/s
Accelerometer full range: ±8 g
Magnetometer full range: ±8 G
Fully supported in the MT Software Suite development environment
Xsens, manufacturer of motion-tracking modules, has launched real-time-kinematic (RTK)-compatible motion trackers. The development is designed to bring centimeter-accurate positioning within reach of a new generation of affordable commercial devices.
The RTK extension to conventional satellite positioning signals reduces the maximum positioning error from around ±1 meter in standard commercial GNSS receivers to typically ±2 centimeters. Companies developing innovative new products in non-military markets such as smart farming, autonomous vehicles and coastal maritime equipment have been keen to take advantage of high-precision RTK capability to enable new applications and more automated functions, according to an Xsens press release.
The MTi-680G is a new product in the Xsens MTi 600-series. The MTi-680G, an integrated GNSS/inertial navigation system (INS) module, features an integrated RTK GNSS receiver, as well as providing synchronized 3D attitude (tilt, inclination) and heading outputs.
The new MTi-680G also features upgraded firmware that substantially accelerates the module’s internal signal processing compared to non-RTK modules. Synchronizing the global position coordinates with the module’s attitude, heading and velocity outputs, the MTi-680G can provide a comprehensive positioning and navigation output for any carrier device, including of devices such as drones that move at high speed, at a maximum output data rate of 400 Hz.
The RTK-enabled module also offers these features:
Precise factory calibration of every production unit
High immunity to magnetic interference
Adaptive firmware operation to optimize performance in various types of scenario
Easy-to-use, free MT Software Suite developer tools to accelerate integration into end-product designs
Out-of-the-box operation with Xsens’ MTi development kits
“Centimeter-accurate positioning at an affordable price for commercial applications — this is the promise of the new RTK-compatible MTi-680G product,” said Boele de Bie, Xsens CEO. “From seed-sowing agricultural robots to autonomous cargo ships, a whole new generation of applications is now possible thanks to the centimeter-level accuracy of the MTi-680G’s position measurements.”
New MTi 600-series with flexible interfacing options is backed by software development suite for easy integration into space-restricted host systems such as drones, Xsens said.
The MTi 600-series is a generation of inertial motion sensors which set a new standard in the market for their small size, industrial-grade performance and competitive pricing, Xsens added.
The new MTi 600-series of inertial sensors, supplied in a 31.5mm x 28.0mm x 13.0mm IP51-rated case, produce roll and pitch readings accurate to ±0.2 degrees. GNSS-assisted heading (yaw) measurements are accurate to ±1.0°. Among the products’ new features are a CAN bus interface and NMEA compatibility.
To achieve this performance, Xsens has applied numerous innovations in its latest sensor fusion algorithms, which optimize the output from new accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer components.
Photo: Xsens
The MTi 600-series modules are the first from Xsens to include an NMEA-compatible interface for GNSS receivers. This means that users can choose any GNSS receiver chip, module or system to work alongside the MTi-670, a GNSS/INS device that supplements the pitch, roll and yaw outputs available from other MTi 600-series products with global positioning information.
Xsens is demonstrating the high performance of the new modules at its stand 2627 at AUVSI Xponential, taking place in Chicago this week.
The MTi 600-series modules are available for sampling on request to Xsens. Volume production is expected to begin in July.
Xsens launched its MTi 600-series of inertial sensors at Xponential 2019, which took place April 29-May 2 in Chicago. At the show, the MTi 600-series won a Technology Innovation Award from the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International.
Xsens has expanded its MTi product portfolio with the introduction of the MTi-7, a miniature inertial navigation system (INS) module that uses input from an external GNSS receiver to provide an accurate, real-time position, velocity and orientation data stream.
The module has a compact 12 x 12-millimeter footprint, weighs less than 1 gram and consumes under 100 milliwatts, making it suitable for use in space- and power-constrained devices such as drones, as well as autonomous or remote-controlled mapping and imaging equipment.
Image: Xsens
Operating at output data rates up to 800 Hz, the MTi-7 achieves very low latency of 2 milliseconds, allowing for real-time operation of dynamic functions such as flight control and camera stabilization, the company said.
The module also offers a position and velocity output suitable for the navigation of autonomous ground vehicles in sectors such as smart farming and robotics.
The high performance of the MTi-7 is due to the advanced sensor fusion algorithms developed by Xsens to synchronize the inputs from the module’s onboard accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer with the signals from an external GNSS receiver or barometer.
The raw sensor signals are combined and processed at high speed in the MTi-7 module to produce a real-time data stream showing the device’s horizontal and vertical position, velocity, roll, pitch and yaw. This user-friendly data stream may be supplied to a host processor via a standard I2C, SPI or UART interface.
Based on the design of the successful MTi 1-series, the MTi-7 offers a straightforward upgrade path for current MTi-1 users on the same form factor. It is also able to provide heading, positioning and orientation accuracy more commonly found in much larger, heavier and higher power devices.
Image: Xsens
:We are seeing exploding demand for accurate control of autonomous or computer-guided equipment such as drones and smart farming ground vehicles,” said Hein Beute, director of product marketing at Xsens. “With its tiny footprint, light weight and low power consumption, the MTi-7 provides the industry’s best solution for any such application that is limited in terms of space or power but that needs a high degree of accuracy and precision in position and orientation data.’
The MTi-7 module is supported by an Arduino-compatible development kit (the MTi-7-DK), which provides access to the module’s I2C, SPI and UART interfaces via micro-USB connections.
Developers can configure the operation of the MTi-7 via the freely available Xsens MT Software Suite. The MT Software Suite includes a GUI for PCs operating on the Linux or Windows platforms, as well as a full Software Development Kit including example source codes and complete documentation.
Xsens has launched BASE, an online technology platform with a community forum and a knowledge base on 3D motion tracking technology and products.
On BASE.xsens.com, the knowledge base contains inside information about micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) sensors, inertial measurement units (IMU), sensor fusion algorithms, body-motion tracking and motion capture.
It also provides best practices, tips and tricks for the use of Xsens’ successful products the MTi series, the MTw and the MVN wearable motion capture solutions. A second section of BASE is the community forum with direct access to Xsens’ engineers and other Xsens users.
The knowledge base and community forum make it easier to integrate the MTi or MTw and to get the most out of MVN. If a question is not answered in the knowledge base, it is straightforward to ask a question to the community. With short response times from either other Xsens users or the entire Xsens engineering team, the user community is a quick way to continue development, Xsens said.
BASE is a next step by Xsens to support the growing community and interest in inertial technology. It further enhances the interaction between users and Xsens.
“Although Xsens makes it easy to use inertial technology in their applications, the underlying technology is complex and there are many features for specific applications,” said Remco Sikkema, Xsens marketing manager. “Understanding the technology makes it easier to integrate the products and be successful with Xsens.”
With BASE, engineers and engineering teams in the Xsens community can come closer together. The primary goal is to make Xsens customers more successful by providing a platform to exchange information.
There is no need to register for BASE to access the community forum and the knowledge base. To ask questions or comment on articles, registration is possible via SSO or email.
In the latest update of its Motion Tracker product portfolio, Xsens has added active heading stabilization (AHS) to its core sensor fusion algorithms on the MTi 10-series and MTi 100-series. Both series are MEMS-based inertial measurement units (IMU), attitude and heading reference systems (AHRS), and vertical reference units (VRUs).
The AHS algorithm delivers fundamentally improved heading tracking accuracy, Xsens said. The improved robustness in heading tracking is particularly evident in Xsens’ line of vertical reference units (MTi-20 and MTi-200). These products now provide actively stabilized heading tracking, delivering 20x less drift than pure gyroscope dead reckoning for most application scenarios. This means heading tracking drift as low as 1 degree after one hour for many applications, while remaining fully immune to magnetic distortions.
Xsens said this characteristic makes the MTi line of products a highly accurate, but cost-effective solution for robotic/indoor navigation, camera stabilization, satellite communication, directional drilling, borehole/pipeline inspection and pedestrian navigation applications, Xsens said.
“Customers are already choosing our MTis because of their accurate heading tracking capabilities, but this algorithm will bring the accuracy to a whole new level, enabling more applications and creating new markets. The 12 cm2 MTi comes with an easy-to-use library, so that integrating the solution is straight-forward,” said Marcel van Hak, Product Manager of Industrial Applications for Xsens.
AHS is available immediately as a free firmware upgrade to all MTi customers as part of the just-released MT Software Suite 4.3.
The following video shows a demonstration of the Active Heading Stabilization, with the Xsens MTi is mounted on a robotic vacuum cleaner.
The MTi-G-700 by Xsens is a GPS-aided, IMU-enhanced GPS/INS that offers high-quality orientation and position. It makes use of sensory measurements from magnetometer, barometer, and a high-sensitivity GPS-L1 receiver to provide navigation estimates of position, velocity, and orientation at high data rates under high-dynamic conditions.
The Xsens estimation engine (XEE) sensor-fusion framework enables the motion tracker to take advantage of different aiding sensor measurements and optimally fuse them to get robust tracking estimates. The MTi-G-700 has a u-blox 6 internal 50-channel L1C/A code receiver with 2-meter horizontal accuracy and 5-meter vertical accuracy; SBAS; a 4-Hz update rate; 27-second cold start-up time; and -161 dBM tracking sensitivity.
The MTi is being used by customers for many maritime and oceanographic applications that require 3D orientation, 3D position, 3D velocity, and 3D dynamic data, such as a monitoring system in a barge master vessel where the MTi monitors the movement of a wave-compensated crane.
